William v



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEo WILLIAM V. WALLACE, OF NEWT YORK, N. Y.

PIANO-FO RTE ACTION.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 59,295, dated October 30, 1866.

To all 'whom 'it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM V. WALLACE, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano-Actions; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference beinr had to the accompanying` drawing, makin g a part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a side elevation of a piano-key and its several connections with the hammer, which will illustrate how the series may be similarly furnished with my improvement.

The piyoted connections between the key and the hammer of a piano-action must be very accurately and closely lit-ted to transmit the necessary motion to the hammer and to prevent any rattling` or lost motion. The most carefully selected and seasoned woods are used for theseA connections; but the best will, in damp weather or by exposure, swell and cause them to stick, or, at least, so bind as not to move with perfect freedom; and though these pivoted connections are mufled by cloth or other material interposed at and around the joint, still the swelling` of the wood will cause them to work stify.

My invention consists in making' the inter posed parts between the key and the hammer, either in whole or in part, of indurated or hard rubber, gutta-pereha, or their equivalent moistureresisting gums or composition, so that damp weather or exposure shall not swell or impair the perfect freedom of their action.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawing.

A represents the key or key-lever, and B the hammer, which may be made in any of the usual well-known ways, and of the material ordinarily used for the purpose. The connections between these two parts of the piano or other keyed instrument I propose to make, in whole or in part, of some moisture-resisting material that will not swell by dampness or exposure, and prefer for the purpose hard rubber, though gutta-percha or other gums possessing` the qualities of hard rubber may be used. Y

The piece G is permanently fastened to the key or key-lever A, and the piece D is permanently fastened to the frame E.

The jack F is pivoted to the piece C at a, and the hammer B is pivoted to the piece D at c. The motion of the key-lever is transmitted through the jack and the two pivoted points a c to the hammer, as shown bythe drawing. The swellingI of the wood tightens these pivoted joints and causes them to work stiftly.

I propose to make the several pieces forming,` or connecting the key-lever and hammer of hard rubber or its equivalent, or at least the frictional or rubbing parts thereof, and particularly the jack F and piece D, so that there shall be no binding,` between them, caused by swelling` of the material of which they are composed.

Having thus fully described my invention,

'what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

Making the connections or joints between the key and hammer of a piano action of hard rubber, or its equivalent moistureresistA ing gum or compound, to prevent swelling' and consequent binding of said parts, substantially as described.

W. V. IVALLAOE. Vitnesses:

A. B. SToUGrrToN, EDM. F. BROWN. 

